The Blanket She Carried

The story of Linda Sparkman's life and the unfortunate circumstances that she has endured helped to pass a state law that now protects other people and their rights from being permanently sterilized without their knowledge or permission.

Roger, my lawyer, said, "Linda, I am sorry for you for what your mother and this doctor did to you." I could see the tears welling up in his eyes. I asked him what I should do now. My lawyer said, "Linda, I don't know if you know this or not, but there is a law on the books because of your life story. It took your experience to pass this law that says no one can be sterilized unless they are in a mental institution. I know it was all wrong and that they should have to pay for what they have done to you." He then told me that he had talked to Dr. Kline and the doctor wasn't very nice to him, questioning him like he did. Roger threatened the doctor by telling him that he had better tell the truth about all of this or that he would have a big lawsuit on his hands. Roger said it took over an hour to convince him, but that the doctor finally told him the truth about what the surgery had done to my body. I could never have children.